Eugen Sandow, who claims to be the strongest man in the world, appears in the Edison Company's film studio.

"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison Catalog

A scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns around and directs the musicians as they take up their own positions.

Customer gets a lightning-fast shave.

A scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.

Lee Martin, one of the cowboy stars in 'Buffalo Bill's Wild West', rides a bronco as a crowd looks on. While the horse is trying to throw Martin off its back, another cowboy stands on top of a fence rail and occasionally fires his six-shooter, to spur on both horse and rider.

Hadji Cheriff, a performer known for a variety of unusual abilities, demonstrates part of his act in the Edison studio.

A man and a kangaroo stand up in front of each other with boxing gloves, and simulate a boxing match on a theatre stage.

Two blacksmiths work while the vapors rise in the air. Later, another man arrives and offers a drink.

Bookmaker struggles with police and is arrested.

The pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.

Three dancers do a Russian folkloric step dance, facing the camera, in traditional clothes, fur hats and leather boots.

Part of the Wintergartenprogramm.

Different species of fish and frogs, inside an aquarium.

Two men play cards, as a third watches and a waiter brings drinks. The third man pours drinks as the waiter laughs.

This lost film presumably features a train arriving at Vincennes station.

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

Two bill posters argue as an incompetent guard patrols the area.

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

A fellow in a wide-brimmed hat, with a willowy stick for a rod and a baited hook, sits down on a plank hanging over a bridge above a stream. He sticks the rod under his seat and picks up his bottle to take a swig. Behind him creeps a joker who removes the large flagstone that's holding the fisherman's plank in place (IMDb)

This picture was taken at one of the curves on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, along the beautiful Susquehanna River. The train is seen rapidly approaching in the distance, clearly outlined against the grey mountains. Smoke can be seen pouring in volumes from the stack of the locomotive, and as the train approaches closely, she sounds a whistle, warning some section men, who are working on the tracks in the foreground. As she rushes by the camera, the swing motion of the train gives a vivid idea of the lightning speed at which she is traveling. (Edison film catalog)

Formed by the junction of Broadway, Sixth Avenue and 35th Street. The picturesque low roofed Herald building is plainly shown; also the passing crowds and group of idlers.

A short black and white film which documents the performance of a juggler.

A short black and white film which documents the workday of shipbuilders.

This short documentary captures various men and children enjoying water activities.

A short black and white film which documents an outdoor bowling game.

Several competitors take part in a friendly sack race, with widely varying degrees of success.

A short black and white film in which children are seen playing a game of marbles.

A ship is launched into the water.

A short black and white film which documents a mother taking her children out for a walk.

A short black and white film which captures people jumping off a ramp and playing in the water.

A black and white short which documents a boat returning to the dock and the unloading of passengers.

Artist draws Thomas Edison.

The dancer Fatima, well-known for her dancing shows at the World's Exhibition in 1893, performs for the camera. She opens her act by twirling around a few times, and then she does the 'muscle dance' for which she had attracted considerable notoriety.

Vaudeville dancer Amy Muller performs a portion of her stage routine, which features dancing on her toes. She dances on one toe for part of the performance. Later, she also twirls and does cartwheels.

The camera shows a water ride at Bergen Beach at Coney Island. A raised track filled with water forms a chute, and a small boat full of park visitors slides down the chute. Alongside, empty boats are hauled back to the top of the ride.

A crowd watches the Newark Fire Department respond to a call.

Members of the New York state militia enjoy some relaxing time during a meal break.

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Fire Department responds to an alarm on a December morning.

The floods of the Saône river during the first week of November, 1896.

Francis Doublier does bicycle tricks in the street.

Several young boys are playing marbles on the streets, while several girls of about the same age watch their game.

Considered a remake of Lumière's La Voltige from 1895.

Possibly the oldest surviving film shot in Spain, depicts Spanish dancers frantically doing their thing.

A short black and white film which documents a crowd involved in transporting the Independence Bell.

A short black and white film which depicts passengers exiting from a ship.

Serpentine dance.

Lumière's documents life in Palestine.

“A comic subject, clear, bright and characteristic. Shows four girls in their night dresses, engaged in an animated pillow fight. During the action the pillows become torn, and the feathers fly over their heads and about the room in great numbers, producing with the white dresses and the black background a novel effect. Sharp, full of action, and popular in character.” (Edison Catalog)

At the Armour & Co. Chicago yard. Two railroad tracks dominate the center and right half of the frame as we look down about 40 meters where an overpass crosses...

A vaudeville routine: two denizens of the Bowery dance while under the influence. She's wearing a light dress with a full skirt. He wears a white sport coat and tie. Both have hats. On a small stage, she approaches him gingerly, leaning forward. He grabs her close, she leans into him, and he waltzes her around. (IMDb)

Ten horse-drawn pieces of equipment of the Buffalo Fire Department pass by a stationary camera that looks down a broad avenue as they come toward it...

A street scene showing parade of the entire Buffalo Police Department, 16 men abreast, with military band.

In the Chicago stockyards, the gates of a pen of long-horn cattle are open and the cattle are being herded out by several cowhands.

The busiest corner in Chicago. Cable cars and street traffic of all descriptions. Hundreds of shoppers. Fine perspective view looking north toward the Masonic Temple.

“By the Leanders. The dress of one consists of a pair of wings and a bow and arrow; the other represents a fairy. Bathers in all stages of dress and undress watch the graceful dance.” (Edison film catalog)

A young boy dances on a table top.

From Edison films catalog: Taken during the Klondike excitement. The streets are crowded with miners buying outfits and supplies. Mule trains, trolley cars and hurrying pedestrians give life and bustle to the scene. 50 feet. $7.50. Advertised as part of the "Northern Pacific Railway Series" (Edison films catalog): The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway. We are greatly indebted to their officials who afforded us every opportunity in their power to obtain these splendid views. Many of the scenes are incident to the excitement prevailing at the time of the Klondike gold rush. They show the resources of this company for handling large numbers of people, baggage, freight and excursion parties, and give to prospective tourists and merchants an idea of the facilities with which this road handles traffic of all kinds (p. 9). (LoC)

Shows the wharf at San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor.

Another Edison film shot in San Francisco at the Fisherman's Wharf. Once again the camera is looking down on a group of men doing their jobs.

“A clever characteristic dance called the 'Yellow Kid.' Very unique. Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is composed largely of bathers.” (Edison Catalog)

Along the seashore near San Francisco, a boat belonging to the Pacific Coast Life Saving Service can just be seen as it returns to shore. Several men are at the oars. As the boat approaches land, it must make its way through rough waves and surging water.

One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions...

Children enjoying the seaside.

Under bombardment, five sailors load and fire a cannon on a naval ship, as their captain supervises.

An incident of the Franco-Prussian War. It shows the bombardment of a house at Bazeille. It is the animated reproduction of de Neuville's celebrated painting.

The Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

The film had a skirmish to Firefighters from Havana pulling guard barracks pump, reel and carriage for help, two staircases and fire rising up to the roof, carrying hoses.

A staging of Jesus' passion.

Children entering and exiting a schoolhouse.

Branding calves in 1898.

An active outdoor film with cattle being driven from an outdoor corral by mounted cowboys.

Atop a wonderful central pedestal, a happy clown puts the finishing touches on a William Tell's incomplete model, assembling the mannequin limb by limb with the intention of shooting a target off of its head with a potent crossbow.

A lost film. Georges Méliès also directed a film entitled Faust aux enfers in 1903 that is frequently confused with this one, but it has little to do with the story of Faust.

Parade footage from San Francisco.

Parade footage.

"Here was built the peerless battleship 'Oregon.' The scene is taken at lunch hour, and shows a great throng of employees leaving the shop."

A preadolescent boy, dressed like a street urchin, performs acrobatic stunts for the camera.

The S.S. Australia departs from San Francisco Bay, carrying American soldiers to the Philippines.

In this movie, dancer Ella Lola performs a Turkish variation of a "Danse Du Ventre", the oriental belly dance. In her dance she shakes, twists and turns around in a very energetic dance. The elements of Turkish folklore can be felt despite the lack of sound as the differences from this and other belly dances are very notorious when her traditional Turkish dress swings in a marvellous way as she dances. Unlike other films about exotic dances, Lola's movies (the other was "Ella Lola, a la Trilby") were of a less erotic nature and more focused on the realistic representation of the dance. A professional dancer since a very young age, Lola's dancing is very graceful and showcases an enormous control over her body.

Papa is reading his newspaper and his little girl tickles his neck with a long straw. Thinking it is a fly papa "shoos" away the supposed fly with his hand…

Beguiling scene of adults frolicking on a small-scale roller coaster in an urban park.

A cadger, pretending to be blind, turns round little finger constabulary, putting instead of itself nothing unsuspecting inhabitant.

Dramatized re-enactments of the events of the Dreyfus-affair from 1894 to 1899.

Everyone knows that mixing gambling and liquor can produce unexpected and occasionally dangerous results. As true today as it was back in the late-1800s (when this dramatic short subject was made).

A customer places an order at a cafe. While reading his newspaper he doesn't pay attention to the bottles brought by the waiter.

Mme. Bob Walter performs the serpentine dance.

King John does whatever it takes to keep himself on the throne of England, making enemies of the pope, France, and his nephew along the way.

A magician presents a wreath which in turn transforms into other things.

A dramatization of a real event, in which Fernand Labori, defense lawyer for Captain Dreyfus in the Dreyfus Affair, was shot and wounded in the back by an unknown assailant who escaped.

A fight breaks out between reporters, as a dramatization of the events surrounding the Dreyfus Affair, an actual historic event.